Relay



April 27, 1954 T. WELCH RELAY Filed sept. ,24, 1951 65 7o e265 rz @5 :L 66o 6 @17| 'n 2Q 45 A Iz ze 25 59 e az H an o l5 47 42 sz` 5o Il... l:

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. IN V EN TOR.

Arme/YAY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES .iiATENT OFFICE 17 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to circuit controlling devices and relates more particularly to improvements in relays.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a relay that is substantially free from the effects of vibrations.

It is another object to provide a device of this character having accurate adjusting means.

It is still another `object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein the adjustment means is effective in maintaining proper adjustments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having high circuit con-- trolling characteristics.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having novel structural arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is simple in conf struction and which has relatively few parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is sturdy and compact.

A further object ofthe invention is to vprovide a device of this character that is reliable in operation. Y

Other objects andadvantages of the 'invention will appear in the following part of the specncation.

Referring to the drawings, Vwhich are for illustrative purposes only:

vFig. lis the perspective view ot a relay embodyf ing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 ci? Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the device; and Fig. 5 is a bottom View of the device as viewed 'from line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a frame, indicated generally at I0, formed of a strip of suitable magnetic material and having a generally L-shape, there being a horizontal or` lower arm II, as shown in the drawings, and an upright arm I2. The arm II of the frame I is provided with an enlarged portion I3, as best shown in Fig. 5, intermediate the ends thereof, which is provided with a central opening I4 dened in part by a flange I5 which is extruded. The extruded flange extends upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 3. There is an end portion I6 of said arm which has a downwardly projecting boss I'l which isralso formed by'extrusion and is adapted to be received in a recess or opening I8 in a panel I9 to which the device is attached by means to be hereinafter described.

A core, indicated generally at 20, has a central portion ZI which is knurled, Fig. 3, and one end of the core is reduced in diameter, as at 23, thereby forming a shoulder 24.v The reduced end portion 23 is press-fitted into the opening` Id and the shoulder 24 abuts against the free end of the flange I5. It is to be noted that in knurling the portion 2l, the pressure applied in the knurling process causes the metal of the portion 2i to be pressed longitudinally of the core at the shoulder 24 so as to form serrations. The teeth formed by the serrations will dig into the free end of the flange I and, thereby, hold the core 20 against rotation in the opening I4. Also, by providing the flange I5, there is a greater surface area for magnetic flux conduction between the fra-ine and the core.

The coil 25 is mounted on the core en, the knurled portion 2| of the core being received in a suitable axial opening in said` coil. The axial coil opening is of such size as to snugly receive the knurled portion 2| so that the teeth oi the latter portion will engage the coil and hold same againstrotation. The coil 25 is held against longitudinal movement at one end by abutment against thearm Il of thev iranieand is held against such' movement at the other end by a washer El of insulating material which is received on the portion 2l and is engaged by a shoulder EB at the outer side formed by an enlarged head 29 of the core at the end of said core opposite the arm l I of the frame. The coil 25 is provided with a pair of contacts 3l and 32 to which wires 3d and 34 may be soldered, said wires comprising portions of a circuit which includes a source of electrical power such as a battery E35, the circuit includes a switch 35 which is manually operable although other means for operating said switch may be provided.

The arm I2 of the frame has a piece of insulating material, shown as a block 40, secured thereto by means oi rivets 45! which also secure a contact $2 to said block. The contact 42 is centrally located on the front face of the insu lating piece and a suitable wire of an electric circuit may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured to said contact 42.

At one side of the contact 42 there is secured to the block e@ another contact, indicated generally at 44, and comprises a generally flattened part '45 securedto the blockdll by rivets lili and having a forwardly extending part llly to which an electric wire may be' soldered or otherwise suit ably secured. At the opposite end of the flattened part 45, shown as the upper end, the contact extends upwardly at 48, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, and is provided with a laterally turned contact portion 49 which is shown as being generally horizontal in Figs. l, 3 and 4 and is spaced upwardly of the upper edge of the block 40.

Adjacent the other side of the contact 42 but also spaced therefrom is a contact member indicated generally at 50 and includes a nattened portion secured to the block 4B by rivets 52 and at the lower end of the fiattened portion 5|, `as shown in the drawings, is a forwardly extending part 53 to which an electric wire may be secured by any suitable means such as soldering. At the other or upper end of the portion 5|, is a contact end portion 55 which is generally horizontal and has a part which extends beneath the end portion 49 of the contact 44. The parts 49 and 55 extend generally parallel to each other and in spaced relationship and these parts are substantially round in cross section and may be of solid silver or other suitable silver alloy if desired. Inas much as this material has high thermo-conductivity, such heat as may be developed by the contact arc is conducted away very rapidly; however, other suitable contact metals and alloys may be used.

The vcontacts 42, 44 and 50 are part of the controlled circuits and the contacts 44 and 50 comprise the fixed contacts of said controlled circuits. I'here is a relay armature assembly, indicated generally'at 60, which includes a lever 6| having a central part S2 of' reduced width operably received in a notch 63 in the head ,'S oi the core 20. By notching the head 29 of the core, there is provided a pair of `forked members 65 between which the lever 6| is mounted. The members 65 are provided withY aligned openings which receive a pivot pin 66 secured in position :by swedging at 61.

fend of the lever 6| with a laterally turned portion 1| which extends over the rear edge of the lever 6| and holds the retainer against rotation on a rivet 12 provided to'secure said retainerfto said lever. The recesses 68 and 69 of the lever and retainer respectively, together form an open-- ing in which the pivot pin 66 is operably received. Alternatively,^a hole may be provided in the lever for reception of the pin 66 so that said lever will be Vrotatable-on said pin as in the case of the arrangement which includes recesses formed in thelever and retainer 10. The oppositeor forward-end of thelever 6|, as seen in the drawing, is provided with a contact which is shown as a substantially round bar disposed between the portions 49 and 55 of the respective fixed contacts 44 and 50. The portions 49 and 55 of said :fixed contacts are spaced apart a greater distance than the diameter of the contact 15 which is adapted to move between said fixed contacts with movements of the lever 6|.` The contact 15 is provided with a reduced end portion 16 received in a bore provided therefor in the adjacent end of the lever 6| and said contact 15 is held in position by swedging in the lever, as at 11. The

armature assembly, comprising the lever 6|, re-

tainer and movable contact member 15, is substantially balanced with respect to the pivot 66. In other words, the part on one side of said pivot 66 substantially balances the part on the other side of said pivot.,

The lever 6| is spring urged in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. l and 3, so that the contact 15 normally contacts the contact portion of the contact 44. The spring for urging the lever in the clockwise direction is shown as being a flat spring, indicated generally at 80, which is bent intermediate its ends to provide a substantially central contact point 8| which rests on or engages the bottom 82 of the notch 63 of the core 20 and the point of contact of the portion 8| with said bottom 82 is at al1 times forwardly or ahead of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the pivot pin 66 and the core 20, it being understood that the axis of the pin 66, as shown, inter sects the axis oi said core. More particularly, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the point of contact of the portion 8| is leftwardly of the axis of said core. Adjacent the forward end of the spring 80, there is a small recess 84 pressed therein and adapted to receive the rounded tip of a conical end 85 of an adjusting screw 8B threaded into an opening provided therefor in the lever 6| adjacent the forward end thereof. Thus the rear portion of the spring 80 reacts between the point of contact of the portion 8| with the bottom 82 of the core notch and the adjacent end of rivet 12, the forward end of said spring reacts between said bottoml 82 and i the adjustment screw 86 urging the-lever in the clockwise direction.

The rearward end of the spring is adapted to urge the rear end portion of the lever in the counterclockwise direction. As shownftherear endportion of the spring-80 reacts against the rivet 12 although any other'suitable contact with v the rear portion of the lever will function satis factorily. The arrangement thus described is such that the greatest force of the spring on the lever is such as to urge said lever inl the clockwise direction so as to maintain the contact 15 in engagement with the contact 49 under normal conditions when the coil 25 is de-energized.

The connection between the adjustment screw 86 and the spring 80 is such that the spring is held in position in fixed relation to said screw thereby providing good maintenance of any adjustment setting. This arrangement also prevents movements of the spring forwardlyrearwardly, or sideways which would tend to change the spring tension on the 'lever andchange the Whole' adjustment. Moreover, the three point contact of the spring tends to havel a friction damping to the spring so vthat the effects of vibration are eliminated or substantially eliminated from the device.

The free end ot the arm I2 of the frame I0 is spaced from the adjacent end of the lever 6|, as best shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4 and said free end of the arm |2 is so positioned that when the forward end ci the lever 6| is moved in the counterclockwise direction so that the contact 15 engages the contact 55 said free end of arm I2 is still slightly spaced from the adjacent end of the lever.

The controlled circuits in the device are as vfollows; one wire of said circuits is connected to the contact 42 which is electrically, as .well as physically, connected to the arm |2 of the frame and current flows through the frame, through the core 2G, lever 6| and contact 15 to the contact 49, under normal conditions, and thence to the contact 41. When the coil 25 is energized and-the contact 15 engages the part 55 of contact 50, the circuit then is through said contact instead of through contact 44.

It is also to be noted that the magnetic circuit through the frame. corerand armature ls complete except for the gap between the forward end oi' the leverV and the free end of the arm l2 of the frame which provides a highly effective and ecient magnetic circuit.

The device is readily attachable to panel l, or any other suitable support, by means of a screw 90 which passes through a suitable opening provided in the panel I9 and is threadably received in a threaded bore Si which extends axially or longitudinally in the adjacent end of the core 2 l. It is to be noted that inasmuch as the shoulder 24 of' the core engages the adjacent or free end of the flange I 5, the core cannot be pulled longitudinally in the opening i4 when the screw 9G is tightened so that the relay cannot be thrown out of adjustment even by excessive tightening of the screw Sil.

I claim:

l. In an electric relay: a magnetic frame and core structure of genersily U-shape; a coil for said structure; an armature pivoted to one arm of said structure and having a part extending into operable position with the other arm of said structure, said armature including a movable contact member; a pair of spaced rod-like contact members engageable by said movable contact member, said spaced contact members being substantially round in cross section; and yielding means urging the armature in a direction to effect engagement of one of said pair of Contact members by said movable Contact, the other said pair of contact members being engaged by the movable contact when said coil is energized and the armature is actuated as a result thereof.

2. In an electric relay: a frame and core structure of generally U-shape; a coil for said structure; a movable armature carrying a contact member which is round in cross section; a pair of iixed spaced contact members engageable by the iirst mentioned contact member, said pair of contact members being elongated and substantially round in cross section and comprising at least some silver; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction for engagement with one of the pair of contact members by the rst mentioned contact, said armature being movable in the opposite direction upon energization of the coil so as to effect engagement of the first mentioned Contact member with the other of said pair of Contact members.

3. In an electric relay: frame and core structure of generally U-shape; a coil for said structure; a movable armature carrying a contact member which is substantially round in cross section; a pair of elongated substantially parallel, fixed contact members in spaced relation to each other, said contact members being round in cross section and being adapted to be tangentially oontacted by the irst mentioned contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction for engagement with one of the pair of contact members by the rst mentioned contact, said armature being movable in the opposite direction upon energization of the coil so as to eiect engagement of the iirst mentioned contact member with the other of said pair of contact members.

4. In an electrical relay: a generally U-shaped frame and core structure; a coil for said structure; and an armature pivoted to one arm of said structure and having a part extending to a position closely adjacent to but spaced from the other end of said structure, said armature having two positions and said structure and armature being of magnetic material and forming a substantially closed magnetic circuit; means wherein the free end of the armature carries a contact member movable with said armature and there are a pair of spaced contact members engageable by the movable contact member when the armature is in its respective positions and the frame structure and armature are in the electrical circuit of the mechanism as Well as the magnetic circuit.

5. In an electric relay: a generally U-shaped frame and core structure, one arm of said structure having a notch therein; a coil for said structure; an armature having the intermediate portion received in said notch; means pivoting the central portion of said armature to the notched arm of said structure, said armature having a plurality of positions for controlling the relay circuits; and a leaf spring having a portion intermediate the ends thereof engageable with the bottom of the notch and having end portions engageable With the armature at opposite sides of the pivoting means for urging the armature toward one of said positions.

6. The invention defined by claim 5 wherein the spring is provided with an indentation adjacent one end thereof and there is an adjustment screw provided on the armature, said adjustment screw having a tapering end received in said indentation.

7. The invention defined by claim 5 wherein the point of contact of tbe portion of the spring engaging the bottom of the notch is at one side of a plane through the axis of the pivoting means tor the armature and through the arm of said structure.

8. In an electric relay: a generally L-shaped frame having a hole therein partly deined by an upstanding flange extending axially of said hole; a core having an end portion press-tted into the flanged hole; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a. free end adjacent the end of one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end of the armature and movable therewith; a pair of xed contact members alternately engageable by the movable contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction.

9. In an electric relay: a generally L-shaped frame having a hole therein partly deiined by a ilange extending axially of said hole; a, core having an end portion press-fitted into the anged hole; a shoulder on said core adjacent the end received in the hole, said shoulder abutting against the free end of the flange about said hole; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a free end adjacent the end of one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end 0f the armature and movable therewith; a pair of xed contact members alternately engageable by the movable contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction. l

10. In an electric relay: a generally L.shaped frame having a hole therein partly dened by a flange extending axially of said hole; a core having an end portion pre-fitted into the hanged hole, said core being provided with a knurled portion and a shoulder adjacent the end received in said hole in the frame, the teeth formed by knurling extending longitudinally beyond the shoulder which is engaged by the free end of the ange, portions of said teeth pressing into the adjacent end of said ilange; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a free end adjacent the end of one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end of the armature and movable therewith; a pair of fixed contact members alternately 'engageable by the movable contact member; and

yielding means urging the armature in one direction.

ll. In an electric relay: a generally L-shaped frame having a hole in one arm and partly deilned by a flange extending axially of said hole and in the same general direction as the other arm of said frame; a boss on said one arm of the frame extending in the opposite direction from said ange for reception in a recess in a supportingmember so that said irame may be held against displacement on the support; a core having an end portion press-fitted in the flanged hole, the end of said core received in said hole having a longitudinally extending threaded bore for reception of an attaching screw; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a free end adiacent the end oi one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end of the armature and movable therewith; a pair of iixed contact members alternately engageable by the movable contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction.

12. In a frame and core structure for an electrical device: a generally L -shaped frame member having a hole in one arm partly defined by a flange; and a core member' having a shoulder adjacent one end thereof and an end portion extending outwardly of said shoulder and snugly received in said hole so that the free end of the flange is engaged by said shoulder, said end of the core having a threaded bore therein for reception of an attaching screw.

13. In an electric relay: a magnetic frame and core structure of generally U-shape; a-coil for said structure; an armature pivoted to one arm of said structure and having a part extending into operable position with said other arm of said structure, said part including a movable contact member, there being another part extending in the opposite direction from the pivotal point of the armature adapted to balance the first mentioned part; a pair of spaced contact members engageable by said movable contact members; and yielding means urging the armature in a direction to effect engagement of one of said pair of contact members by said movable contact, the other said pair of contact members being engaged by the movable contact when said coil is energized and the armature is actuated as a result thereof.

14. In an electric relay: a frame and core structure of generally U-shape; a coil for said strucmember, said pair of contact members being elongated and round in cross section and comprising at least some silver; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction for engagement with one of the pair of contact members by the iirst mentioned contact, said armature being movable in the opposite direction upon energization of the coil so as to effect engagement of the rst mentioned contact member with the other of said pair of contact members.

15. In an electric relay: a generally L-shaped frame having a hole therein partly defined by a flange extending axially of said hole and outwardly of the plane of the adjacent surface of the frame; a core having an end portion pressfitted into the ilanged hole; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a free end adjacent the end of one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end of the armature and movable therewith; a pair of iixed contact members alternately engageable by the movable contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one direction.

16. In an electric relay: a generally L-shaped frame having a hole in one arm and partly denned by a flange extending axially of said hole and in the same general direction as the other arm of said frame; a core having an end portion press-iitted in the flanged hole, the end of said core received in said hole having a longitudinally extending threaded bore for reception of an attaching screw; an electric coil mounted on said core; an armature pivotally mounted to the core and having a free end adjacent the end of one of the frame arms; a contact secured to said free end of the armature and movable therewith; a pair of fixed Contact members alternately engageable by the movable contact member; and yielding means urging the armature in one di.- rection.

17. In a frame and core structure for an electrical device: a generally L-shaped frame member having a hole in one arm partly deiined by a flange extending perpendicular to the surface yof said one arm; and a core member having a shoulder adjacent one end thereof and an end portion extending outwardly of said shoulder and snugly received in said hole so that the free V, end of the flange is engaged by said shoulder,

said end of the core having a threaded bore therein for reception of an attaching screw.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,646,888 Trent Oct. 25, 1927 2,341,896 Bellows, Jr. et al. Feb. l5, 1944 2,398,657 McMaster et al. Apr. 16, 1946 2,417,758 Imrnel Mar. 18, 1947 2,482,860 Miller Sept. 27, 1949 2,500,748 Grant Mar. 14, 1950 2,501,507 Grant Mar. 21, 1950 2,517,052 Swinehart Aug. 1, 1950 2,558,640 Wurgler June 26, 1951 

